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Wales (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Wales => Glamorganshire => Topic started by: Cassland on Wednesday 12 September 12 16:04 BST (UK)

Title: Aberfan Hong Kong Stores
Post by: Cassland on Wednesday 12 September 12 16:04 BST (UK)
My greatgrandmother, Margaret Rees (born 1851/2), owned the Hong Kong Stores, Aberfan at the end of the 19th century. Any information on the Stores or on her ancestors most welcome. She was married to Evan Rees, 'boot and shoe dealer'.
Title: Re: Aberfan Hong Kong Stores
Post by: cardiff on Thursday 20 September 12 15:36 BST (UK)
Hell
 welcome to rootchat :)
 This is a possible match to the family
1891 census piece 4434 folio 27 page 2
3 Aberfan road Merthyr tydfil
Evan Rees  head b 1855 Trefeglwys Montgomeryshire Grocer
Margaret wife b 1853 trefeglwys montgomeryshire
Jevan Gwillim son b 1881 as parents
Ann Jane Myfanwy  daug b 1882 merthyr
Edith emily daug  b 1886 merthyr
Gormer Llewellyn son b 1889 merthyr
 1901 census
5026/65/8
Margaret Rees widow  head b 1854 cefn mawr Montgomeryshire grocer own accuts at home
Janes  b 1882
edith e b 1886
gomer Ll b 1888
all born merthyr children not given occupation
What info are you looking for?
cheers cardiff :)
Title: Re: Aberfan Hong Kong Stores
Post by: cardiff on Thursday 20 September 12 16:19 BST (UK)
Hi
daughter 's marriage
Jane Ann M Rees =m= Herbert Bertram Dobbs merthyr tydfil 2nd qutr 1909 vol 11a page 1330
cheers cardiff
Title: Re: Aberfan Hong Kong Stores
Post by: cardiff on Thursday 20 September 12 16:56 BST (UK)
Hi
Here is the sons poss marriage
Gomer llewellyn Rees =m= gertrude annie llwewllyn  2nd qtr 1909 Merthyr Tydfil  vol 11a page 1331
  poss birth of their daughter
Vivien Margaret Rees 3rd qtr 1909 merthyr tydfil  vol 11a page 840
cheers cardiff
Title: Re: Aberfan Hong Kong Stores
Post by: Cassland on Wednesday 26 September 12 14:39 BST (UK)
Many thanks, Cardiff. I had most of the census info. The daughter, Edith Emily, was my mother's mother. My mother is now 99. I am particularly keen to know anything about the bizarrely named 'Hong Kong Stores'.
Title: Re: Aberfan Hong Kong Stores
Post by: cardiff on Wednesday 26 September 12 17:28 BST (UK)
Hi
Thats ok
Have you thought about contacting either Aberdare or Pontypridd Library they may have info on the shop, both librarys are very helpful, they may have info for you or can direct you to why it was called the Hong Kong shop?
I note that in the last census your mother entered the address as Hong Kong shop & Thistle Croft......
You have not mentioned the second  name?
May I suggest that if you request info again always state what info you have so rootchatters do not duplicate the info you already have.
Always here to help
cheers cardiff ;)
Title: Re: Aberfan Hong Kong Stores
Post by: Cassland on Thursday 27 September 12 21:06 BST (UK)
Thanks again. I have outstanding query with Merthyr Library services.
Title: Re: Aberfan Hong Kong Stores
Post by: Ralph Handscomb on Thursday 23 July 15 14:00 BST (UK)
Hello all,

I too have been searching for information on my family's connection with this shop.

here is a good picture - http://www.alangeorge.co.uk/Images_A-C/Aberfan_AberfanRoad_A.J.Rees.'HongKongStores'_img024.jpg

and the building is still there but is now the Barclays Bank branch.
Title: Re: Aberfan Hong Kong Stores
Post by: Cassland on Thursday 23 July 15 14:39 BST (UK)
Thanks. A friend recently sent me the same photo. I am fairly sure the people shown are my grandfather in the cap, possibly my mother (now deceased 13.3.13) and my maternal great garndmother. I don't know about the other male.What is your connection/interest ? I got nothing back from Merthyr libraries.
Title: Re: Aberfan Hong Kong Stores
Post by: Ralph Handscomb on Thursday 23 July 15 22:04 BST (UK)
Hello Cass,

They are my mother's family and I am fairly sure I am connected to the Rees family in the photograph but with so many of the names being repeated I am not 100% certain.

My family tree is here
 http://handscomb.tribalpages.com/tribe/browse?userid=handscomb&view=9&ver=658

 please take a look and see if we can join the dots!
Title: Re: Aberfan Hong Kong Stores
Post by: Mabel Bagshawe on Friday 24 July 15 22:31 BST (UK)
Hong Kong Stores seems to be quite a popular name in the region for a shop - searching the welsh newspaper archives comes up with around 370 results in various villages such as Bryncethin and Cilfynydd.

The 1909 marriages found earlier were a double ceremony

http://newspapers.library.wales/view/3814898/3814907/104/
Title: Re: Aberfan Hong Kong Stores
Post by: Cassland on Saturday 25 July 15 10:24 BST (UK)
Thanks a) I was aware of the Bryncethin branch. Seems to have been a precursor of Tesco Metro ! Why the name, I wonder? V odd
b) Re: double wedding I have photos of Herbert Dobbs and her watch.